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Shilpa Shinde on the Me Too Movement: There's no rape in this industry, it's a mutual understanding

Amidst the support that Me too movement is getting, TV actress Shilpa Shinde has rubbished the same and said that whatever happens in the industry is a part of a give & take policy. Read to know more details.

Me Too movement in India started after Tanushree Dutta accused actor Nana Patekar of Sexual harassment. However, she mentioned that the incident took place back in 2008 on the sets of Horn Ok Please. Post her allegations, Alok Nath was called out by Vinta Nanda who claimed that he raped and harassed her. With so many women coming out with their Me Too stories, the movement gained a lot of momentum and received the support of actors like Farhan Akhtar, Sonam K Ahuja and more.

However, there were people who were not in favour of the movement. One of them has spoken up and has rubbished the whole movement. Yes! We are talking about the Bhabhi Ji Ghar Pe Hai actress, Shilpa Shinde who had earlier accused the producer of the show of sexual harassment the past year. In an interview, she talked about the movement and said, “It's rubbish. You have to take a call that time only, it's simple. You should speak about that matter that time only. Even I got a lesson. Jab hota hai, tabhi bolo - baad mei bolne ka koi faayeda nahi, it's useless. Baad mei aap voice raise karte ho, usko koi nahi sunega, just controversy hogi – nothing else. You have to take a call that time only when it happens and obviously, you need power.” (Say it when it happens, there and then. If you come out later, it won’t help and no one will listen.)

She even went on to say that in the industry there is no rape and that all is a part of a give and take policy. She explained that she was appalled by girls trying to wear short clothes and try to prove themselves. The TV actress who accused her producer of sexual harassment mentioned that she fought her battle alone and didn’t receive any support from any organisation as well. She went on to add about the fact that sexual harassment wasn’t only in entertainment business and mentioned, “This industry is not bad and it's not very good. Everywhere these things happen. I don't know why khud hi industry ka naam kharaab kar rahe hai. (why is everyone themselves spoiling the name of the industry). So those who are working and they got work – sab hi log kharaab hai? (Is everyone wrong?) Aisa nahi hai, it totally depends on you. Aapse saamne waala insaan kaise react karta hai, aap usko kaise answer karte ho. (how someone reacts to you and how you react to someone) It's totally a give and take policy. Women are speaking now but at that time also I said that there's no rape in this industry - zabardasti nahi hota. (it’s not forced) Whatever has happened in our industry, it's a mutual understanding. It's a mutual thing. If you are not ready to do that, just leave that thing.”

About the Me too movement she felt that nothing will come out of it and things will remain as they are. She added, “Honestly I don't want to talk about it. I feel whatever is happening today - it's something different – nothing will be changed. It will go on and on and on. I don't know why they are spoiling our industry's name. People are now talking about our industry – ki aisa hota hai, waisa hota hai.” (things will remain as they are in the industry). Meanwhile, under the Me Too movement, innumerable names from the industry have come forward and each day the movement is gaining momentum. However, the industry is split into two sides over the movement. Some support it, while others don't’t. Whatever the case maybe, authorities are acting up and the movement is getting stronger by each day.

Wow! This coming from a woman who was apparently sexually harassed herself. Madam, think about what you said, read on sexual harassment and trauma, understand the whole process before you speak again. People like you are part of the problem.

Arre madam - this is being talked about because we do not want any other girl to go through it in future. What you have believed to be the norm should change. There should be no give and take. Do you understand that? It should never be asked - that if you sleep with so and so you will get the job. Skill hai kaam karo ghar jao. Please baat samjho. We are conditioned to think that such horrific acts are normal in any industry. Please raise your thinking standard. Do you think it is okay for a gender to be reduced to this? I am so appaled to hear such statements by women. They have lost all respect for themselves.

When small brains get a big platform this is what happens. If this lady does give and take it doesn’t mean anything. Other people might not have had the option of saying No. Indian women most of the time cannot whole heartedly support other victims/survivors! I don’t think conditions are going to improve in india!

She cant word herself correctly.... But I'm assuming she means there are females that know its a bad idea but still go for it and act surprised when it happens. The AD still took the job offer from Sajid Khan after that sketchy first encounter. She should have beat the shit out of him instead of waiting for things to get worse and feel sorry for herself in the end. What did she think was going to happen? There's no need to tolerate or feel like its part of the deal. Thats the issue I have with certain females, had things not gotten to extreme they would have just went along with it as opposed to the ones that actually get raped or forcefully manhandled n molested. Stand up for them because the notion of tolerating will give the assaulters more confidence to keep pushing the envelope and eventually someone will end up getting assaulted and raped because of that.

Shut up Shilpa! Likewise in any other industry, no body ( man/ woman) need to give sexual favours to get a movie/ show. That's the crux of the matter....even men are being exploited ....did you bother to read about the female in YRF????

What is it with people who says sexual harassment is in every industry. I was into academic institutions and IT. I didn't see it and neither did my colleagues. These TV and film actors are so dumb. Don't know where they get these references

PV please post all comments! Yes there should be no quid pro quo. Goes without saying there should be NO harassment, no force, no abuse, nothing without consent. Anyone who did these is a criminal and anyone who went through it is a victim and must be given justice. This is the ONLY part that matters and needs to be highlighted. Now keeping this right part aside for a minute, what about actors who voluntarily, with full knowledge and consent, offer to do "favors" to a director or star or crew member, and in return demand that they be given a role, a gift, a house, a dream vacation, a career, a job, a penthouse, a diamond ring? And the person who received the offer, accepts it. Many of the ones who accept it then go ahead and fulfill their half of the "contract" by providing the "return on investment" in the agreed upon form. But some of the ones, after receiving the offer, do not fulfill their side of the contract. And then the person who made the offer, after being used with permission, now screams to be a victim since the contract was not honored. Is that person really a victim!? Many "keeps" keep quiet. The wannabe keeps lash out. I dare the pigs and cats of the world to even dare to open their mouth and act like victims - they are the ones who will tarnish this movement just as false accusers in Hollywood are getting called out and tarnishing the movement there. Beware of the fake victims. Full power to the real victims.

She's saying that real victims need to speak up when it happens, not wait until many years have past. Otherwise it just turns into he said, she said. Rape does occur but false accusations by scorned people occur to and saying that only a small percentage of false accusations occur is downplaying the trauma the victims have experienced. No matter how hard it may be rape needs to be reported when it occurs or nothing will change